ABOUT ME
Before making the move into the field of UX design, I had previously worked my way up to Lead Boiler Operator of a biomass co-generation boiler and turbine generator at a papermill. Having been at the mill for over 12 years and working in the biomass boiler area for 10 years, I learned and improved my leadership, decision making, critical thinking, and communication skills.
Being part of the group to start-up the new biomass boiler systems was a continuous challenge every day for the first few years; helping E&I troubleshoot sensors, shoveling biomass, tuning setpoints on the computers to improve operations, figuring out how to operate the advanced computer controls, and running around constantly made for exhausting and challenging days.
However, having worked at the mill for over 12 years and helping start up the biomass boiler, I realized I no longer wanted to work swing-shift and that it was time for a change, so I started working my way down a new path.
The choice to start a new career path started in the Fall of 2021 when abruptly, I decided to enroll at my local Technical College in the online Computer Support Specialist Associates Degree program. While attending school part-time, working full-time, and balancing my family life, After the first two semesters, I was doing great and made the schools’ Presidents’ list both semesters, having completed 17 credits with a 3.9 GPA.
May 2022, just one-week before summer classes were starting, a family friend told me about UX design. He provided me with some books on UX, as well as suggesting online bootcamps to look at. UX was very interesting to me and the next available bootcamp was just two-weeks later, so I had a challenging call to make.
With UX being so intriguing to me and the outlook of UX seeming much better than that of IT support along with more flexibility, I decided to enroll in a UX bootcamp through CareerFoundry in June 2022. It was a totally new concept to me, but the Intro to UX course had me hooked.
During this bootcamp I developed my passion for creating a better user-centered digital experience, using past experiences and frustrations as a user influenced me to create designs that are intuitive and user friendly.
As an INTP-T, I embody a robust analytical mindset, which empowers me to fully embrace my inventiveness, creativity, and sharp intellect. This type of mentality enables me to mentally visualize ideas, facilitating the planning of effective layouts and intuitive navigation paths. Moreover, my innate ability to understand diverse viewpoints in any conversation, irrespective of my own position, allows for an empathetic approach. This empathetic understanding empowers me to proactively anticipate user interactions and responses to designs, positioning me strongly for a rewarding career in UX design.
My primary goal is a successful career as a UX Designer, fueled by my deep passion for creating exceptional user experiences. I am eager to join a company that not only shares my values but also fosters personal growth, enabling me to evolve both as a designer and as an individual.
In my spare time I enjoy spending time and traveling with my family. We have a goal to visit all 50 states and have already been to Alaska, Hawaii, and many of the northern and western states with plans of visiting Colorado and Utah in the near future.
I’ve been woodworking for over 16 years which relies heavily on my creativity and inventiveness by turning ideas into reality. It’s generally difficult for some to be able to plan out and design a project in their head, let alone being able to translate that into something. This ability became even more helpful when I started combining woodworking with resin and going into the niche market of crafting custom bottle openers. My other hobbies include Homebrewing, Hiking, Biking, CAD designing, 3D printing, and endlessly repairing things around the house.